Overhead Training Curriculum
Entry-Level Cave Courses
The “Full Cave Diver” program consists of three progressive levels designed to build the diver’s skills, confidence, and experience in the overhead environment:
• Cavern Diver – introduces the fundamentals of diving in an overhead environment while maintaining a direct sight of the exit.
• Introductory Cave Diver – expands skills into limited cave penetration beyond the cavern zone, focusing on line handling, gas management, and emergency procedures.
• Cave / Technical Cave Diver – develops full proficiency for complex cave dives, including navigation, restrictions, advanced problem-solving, gas management and/or decompression procedures and cylinders.
These courses may be taken individually or as a combined continuous training program, depending on the diver’s experience and instructor recommendation. Each level is a prerequisite for the next — no course can be skipped, and divers must successfully complete the previous certification before progressing to the next stage of cave training.
Specialized Cave Courses after Full Cave Diver certification
After achieving Cave / Technical Cave Diver level and gaining additional experience in overhead environment, divers can continue developing advanced diving skills through specialized cave programs:
• Stage Cave Diver – use of additional cylinders for extended range and longer penetrations.
• DPV Cave Diver – operation of Diver Propulsion Vehicles in the cave environment for increased distance and efficiency.
• Underwater Cave Survey – mapping, documentation, and survey techniques to create underwater cave maps.
• Advanced Sidemount Cave Diver – optimization of sidemount configuration and techniques for complex restrictions and exploration.
Note: All cave courses offered by us are taught under the IANTD agency and its training standards and can be conducted in either backmount or sidemount configuration.
Cavern Diver
Introduction
The IANTD Cavern Diver course is designed for divers interested in exploring overhead environments and represents the first step between recreational and technical diving. Caverns are partially enclosed environments where daylight or an open water surface is always visible, ensuring continuous visual contact with the exit of the cavern zone. This course is intended for more experienced divers who wish to gain foundational skills for diving in confined spaces. It provides the necessary knowledge and techniques for safe planning and execution of dives within cavern areas, using appropriate equipment and established safety procedures.
What You Will Learn
• planning and executing dives in cavern zones
• calculations of sufficient gas reserve for the way out
• line-handling skills and proper use of guide lines as reels, spools and permanent guide lines
• buoyancy control in confined spaces
• emergency procedures as silt-out situations, line entanglements and light failures
Course Requirements
• minimum 16 years old
• IANTD Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent
• IANTD Open Water Sidemount Diver or equivalent (only in case of sidemount configuration usage)
• 50+ dives
• 10+ night dives
• 10+ dives with double tanks or sidemount (only in case of double tanks or sidemount configuration usage)
• good mental and physical fitness appropriate to the demands of this course
• valid DAN World insurance or equivalent
Minimum Course Duration
• 3 days
Minimum Dives Required
• 4 cavern dives
Course Limits
• maximum 3 students per 1 instructor
• air or nitrox may be used, depends on diver certification level
• unobstructed exit, surface and/or natural light must be always visible
• dives with maximum of 60 meters from the nearest exit
• maximum 1/3 gas rule for penetration
• maximum depth 30 meters (100 feet)
• minimum 12 meters (40 feet) of visibility to enter a cavern zone
• all dives are to maintain a working PO₂ of no grater than 1,4 ATA
• cavern line only, no jumps/gaps, no intersections [ T’s ], no restrictions, no planned decompression, no scooter or rebreather diving, no photo/video dives, no stage cylinders, no solo diving
Introductory Cave Diver
Introduction
The IANTD Introductory Cave Diver course, also known as “Intro to Cave,” is a technical diving course designed to train divers in the basic skills and protocols for safely entering and navigating underwater caves. This class is designed for more experienced divers and focuses on proper use of specialized equipment, as well as safely planning and conducting dives in an overhead environment while staying on the main line without engaging in complex navigation into side passages of the cave.
What You Will Learn
• planning and executing simple cave dives
• managing sufficient gas reserves with limited experience in overhead environment
• proper line following techniques and emergency line drills
• basic cave navigation using permanent line
• gas sharing scenarios in confined and dark spaces
• zero visibility exits
• stress management, communication and team diving protocols in overhead environment
Course Requirements
• minimum 18 years old
• IANTD Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent
• IANTD Open Water Sidemount Diver (only in case of sidemount configuration usage)
• IANTD Cavern Diver or equivalent (only in case of independent Introductory Cave Diver course)
• 75+ dives
• 25+ dives with double tanks or sidemount, depends on which configuration is used
• 10+ night dives
• good mental and physical fitness appropriate to the demands of this course
• valid DAN World insurance or equivalent
Minimum Course Duration
• 3 days (Introductory Cave Diver)
• 6 days (Cavern + Introductory Cave Diver)
Minimum Dives Required
• 6 cave dives (Introductory Cave Diver)
• 10 dives in overhead environment (Cavern Diver + Introductory Cave Diver)
Course Limits
• maximum 3 students per 1 instructor
• air or nitrox may be used, depends on diver certification level
• maximum 1/6 gas rule for cave penetration
• maximum depth 30 meters (100 feet)
• minimum 9 meters (30 feet) of visibility to enter a cave
• all dives are to maintain a working PO₂ of no grater than 1,4 ATA
• main line only, no complex navigation (jumps/gaps, intersections [ T’s ], traverses, circuits), no restrictions, no planned decompression, no scooter or rebreather diving, no exploration, no photo/video dives, no stage cylinders, no solo diving
Cave/Technical Cave Diver
Introduction
The IANTD Cave Diver course, also known as “Full Cave Diver,” is the core certification for those who want to dive complex cave systems. It is intended for highly experienced divers operating at the highest level of competence, with the knowledge and skills required to properly plan and safely execute dives in the complex cave environment. The Technical Cave Diver course is an identical class, but it enables divers to plan decompression dives and use decompression cylinders.
What You Will Learn
• planning and executing cave dives with complex navigation
• more advanced dive planning and gas management
• emergency protocols as lost line, lost diver, out of gas situations, broken line, etc.
• lost line and gas sharing scenarios in zero visibility
• basic principles and movements in confined spaces and restrictions, including zero visibility
• psychological resilience and problem solving
• understanding complex cave systems and hazards
Course Requirements
• minimum 18 years old
• IANTD Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent
• IANTD Open Water Sidemount Diver (only in case of sidemount configuration usage)
• IANTD Introductory Cave Diver or equivalent (only in case of independent Cave Diver course)
• IANTD Advanced EANx Diver or equivalent (only in case of Technical Cave Diver course)
• 100+ dives
• 25+ dives with double tanks or sidemount, depends on which configuration is used
• 10+ night dives
• good mental and physical fitness appropriate to the demands of this course
• valid DAN World insurance or equivalent
Minimum Course Duration
• 4 days (Cave Diver)
• 7 days (Introductory Cave Diver + Cave Diver)
• 9 days (complete Full Cave Diver course)
Minimum Dives Requires
• 6 cave dives (Cave Diver)
• 12 cave dives (Introductory Cave Diver + Cave Diver)
• 16 dives in overhead environment (complete Full Cave Diver course)
Course Limits
• maximum 3 students per 1 instructor
• air or nitrox may be used, depends on diver certification level
• maximum 1/3 gas rule for cave penetration
• maximum depth 30 meters (100 feet)
• minimum 6 meters (20 feet) of visibility to enter a cave
• all dives are to maintain a working PO₂ of no grater than 1,4 ATA
• complex navigation (jumps/gaps, intersections [ T’s ], traverses, circuits) and restrictions are allowed
• decompression cylinders and/or planned decompression may be used during Technical Cave Diver course
• no scooter or rebreather diving, no exploration, no photo/video dives, no solo diving
Advanced Cave – Stage Diver
Introduction
The IANTD Advanced Cave – Stage / Multiple Stage Diver program is a specialized course designed for already certified and experienced cave divers with a minimum of Full Cave Diver certification. This course expands the diver’s skills in planning and conducting longer and more complex cave dives using one or more stage and/or decompression cylinders. The program focuses on the safe and efficient use of additional bottles to extend bottom time and penetration distance into the cave, proper gas management, and precise cylinder handling in the overhead environment, especially in complex or restricted passages. Emphasis is placed on accurate dive planning, team coordination, safety procedures, and emergency management when using stage or decompression cylinders in underwater caves.
What You Will Learn
• dive planning for extended range penetrations
• stage gas management for overhead environment
• proper rigging and configuration of stage and decompression cylinders
• procedures with stage and decompression cylinders including bottle drops, pick-ups, gas switches, and manipulation in confined spaces
• emergency procedures with multiple gas sources
• zero visibility procedures with stages, including lost line and gas-sharing scenarios
• understanding more complex gas planning
Course Requirements
• minimum 18 years old
• IANTD Cave/Technical Cave Diver or equivalent
• IANTD Open Water Sidemount Diver (only in case of sidemount configuration usage)
• 25+ cave dives
• 10+ dives with stage/decompression cylinders
• good mental and physical fitness appropriate to the demands of this course
• valid DAN World insurance or equivalent
Minimum Course Duration
• 4 days
Minimum Dives Required
• 4 cave dives using stage cylinders
Course Limits
• maximum 3 students per 1 instructor
• air or nitrox may be used, depends on diver certification level
• maximum 1/3 gas rule of total gas for cave penetration
• maximum depth 30 meters (100 feet)
• minimum 6 meters (20 feet) of visibility to enter a cave
• all dives are to maintain a working PO₂ of no grater than 1,4 ATA
• complex navigation (jumps/gaps, intersections [ T’s ], traverses, circuits) and restrictions are allowed
• planned decompression may be used
• no rebreather diving, no exploration, no photo/video dives, no solo diving
Advanced Cave – DPV Diver
Introduction
The IANTD Advanced Cave – DPV Diver is a specialized advanced course intended for already certified and highly experienced cave divers with a minimum qualification of Technical Cave Diver. It represents the highest level of open circuit cave training. The course focuses on complex and extended penetration dives in the cave environment using Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPV) along with stage and/or decompression cylinders. The primary goal is to develop proper gas planning and calculations for adequate reserves in case of DPV failures during the dive, as well as to train divers in safe and efficient management of emergency situations associated with this type of advanced diving.
What You Will Learn
• advanced dive planning for extended penetrations into the cave
• DPV mechanics and proper use in the cave environment
• turn pressure calculations and gas reserve planning when using a DPV
• risk assessment and hazard analysis related to DPV diving in overhead environments
• navigation techniques at higher speeds in challenging cave passages
• emergency procedures such as towing another diver or a failed DPV, out-of-gas and gas sharing scenarios while scootering.
• handling multiple stage cylinders while scootering
• use of a back-up scooter
• DPV control, stowage, drops, and pick-ups during the dive
Course Requirements
• minimum 18 years old
• IANTD Technical Cave Diver and/or Stage Cave Diver or equivalent
• IANTD Open Water Sidemount Diver (only in case of sidemount configuration usage)
• 50+ cave dives
• 25+ dives with stage/decompression cylinders
• 25+ dives with DPV
• good mental and physical fitness appropriate to the demands of this course
• valid DAN World insurance or equivalent
Minimum Course Duration
• 5 days
Minimum Dives Required
• 5 cave dives using DPV’s
Course Limits
• maximum 2 students per 1 instructor
• air or nitrox may be used, depends on diver certification level
• specific gas management for cave penetration using DPV’s
• maximum depth 30 meters (100 feet)
• minimum 6 meters (20 feet) of visibility to enter a cave
• all dives are to maintain a working PO₂ of no grater than 1,4 ATA
• complex navigation (jumps/gaps, intersections [ T’s ], traverses, circuits) and restrictions are allowed
• stage cylinders and planned decompression may be used
• no rebreather diving, no exploration, no photo/video dives, no solo diving
